Gabriel von Max (1840–1915) was a German painter whose works bridged Romanticism, Symbolism, and mysticism. Born in Prague, he was the son of sculptor Josef Max and studied at art academies in Prague, Vienna, and Munich. His early exposure to spiritualism, psychology, and anthropology deeply influenced his art. Von Max became known for his haunting, emotionally charged portraits and enigmatic compositions that often featured religious themes, visionary experiences, and a fascination with life after death. He was particularly captivated by physiognomy and the supernatural, which led to works depicting trances, levitations, and even monkeys used as artistic subjects to explore evolution and humanity. A professor at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts, von Max was also a collector of ethnographic artifacts and skulls, reflecting his scientific curiosity. His paintings often portray a delicate balance between beauty and the eerie, drawing viewers into a contemplative experience. Though not as widely recognized today as some of his contemporaries, Gabriel von Max's work remains compelling for its psychological depth and symbolic richness, making him a distinctive figure in 19th-century art.